Sierra Leone-Based Investor Meets President Jammeh

The Daily Observer (Banjul)

Hatab Fadera

13 May 2011

The Gambian leader, His Excellency Sheikh Professor Alhaji Dr Yahya Jammeh, Thursday evening received in audience Apostle Dr Kenneth D Jackson Snr, an investor of the Sierra Leone-based Sovereign Church of Elohiym International, at State House.

Dr Kenneth, whose institution has a regional headquarters in Sierra Leone, was accompanied to the Presidency by The Gambia’s high commissioner to Sierra Leone, His Excellency Momodou S Kah.

Speaking to reporters shortly after the closed-door meeting with the Gambian leader, Dr Kenneth disclosed that his reason for coming to The Gambia was among other things, to form a partnership for the further development of The Gambia using their programmes. Dr Kenneth disclosed that his institution has been operating in the region since 1999 in various areas of development, adding that they are the largest private rice farmers in the region.

He hinted that they will be interested in the agriculture sector with a view to complimenting the efforts of the Gambian leader in the food self-sufficiency crusade. “The foundation for development is individual private food capacity. So the primary objective is to facilitate the president’s efforts -making sure that The Gambia feeds itself, not relying on imports,” he stated.

Dr Kenneth pointed out that no nation that feeds itself has ever been manipulated, saying: “If somebody supplies you with food and whoever supplies you have the ability to control you, they will reduce your food capacity, reduce your food availability, put the price up.” The Sierra Leone-based investor also told reporters that he was inspired by what the president has done here, and because of that he is obligated to do what he can to support him.

He further described President Jammeh as “the most consciously aware head of state I have met with in many years”.

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